Daniel 9:16-19

Without God in our lives we are left on our own. Out of His mercy He gave us the means to survive but sadly as caretakers of His resources we have failed. 

God does not tolerate sin but He offers mercy, forgiveness and restoration through Jesus. His character is unchanging. There is no one righteous but ONE.

Just as in the parable of the prodigal son He is always seeking us out and welcoming us back in to His love. 

Out of  His agape love He gave us JESUS.

Until His return we are His hands and feet. Our actions will direct others to Him or away from Him. All things done in love and in His name will produce results that benefit His Kingdom and honor His name.

God is long-suffering, forgiving and willing to restore our relationship with Him through Christ. In our repentance Holy Spirit will change us from the inside out!

Numbers 6:25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

Daniel 9:16-19

16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. 17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” The New King James Version

Daniel entreats Yahweh to subdue His wrath and forgive on the basis of His righteous acts—His legacy of saving works. The Israelites are in captivity because of their ancestors’ sin. If the temple associated with the God of Israel has been disgraced, so too has God and the nation to whom it belonged. Daniel’s reference to the desolate sanctuary would have resonated with those living in the days of Antiochus. 

Daniel’s prayer reaches its peak with four imperatives asking Yahweh to forgive and take swift action. The condition of God’s city—the temple—and His people reflects on Him. Daniel pleads for their restoration so that the greatness of God’s name might be restored, not defamed. Daniel is concerned with God’s reputation among the nations; he does not want to bring any reproach on His name. Faithlife Study Bible

It is important to note that the only basis for Daniel’s appeal was the grace of God. Do not delay: These words must be understood in light of Daniel’s reference to the 70 years in verse 2. Daniel knew full well that all of God’s promises had not come to pass, nor had the blessings been conferred on the regathered and restored people. The NKJV Study Bible

Here is a believing appeal to the mercy of God. It is a comfort that God has been always ready to pardon sin. It is encouraging to recollect that mercies belong to God, as it is convincing and humbling to recollect that righteousness belongs to him. There are abundant mercies in God, not only forgiveness, but forgivenesses. Here are pleaded the reproach God’s people was under, and the ruins God’s sanctuary was in. Sin is a reproach to any people, especially to God’s people. The desolations of the sanctuary are grief to all the saints. Here is an earnest request to God to restore the poor captive Jews to their former enjoyments. O Lord, hearken and do. Not hearken and speak only, but hearken and do; do that for us which none else can do; and defer not. Here are several pleas and arguments to enforce the petitions. Do it for the Lord Christ’s sake; Christ is the Lord of all. And for his sake God causes his face to shine upon sinners when they repent, and turn to him. In all our prayers this must be our plea, we must make mention of his righteousness, even of his only. The humble, fervent, believing earnestness of this prayer should ever be followed by us.  Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary